H.R. 5961 Memo
H.R. 5961 is a reckless piece of legislation that would force the U.S. to renege on the recent prisoner swap with Iran and bar Iranian funds held abroad from being used to purchase food and medicine. NIAC Action strongly opposes H.R. 5961 and urges Members of Congress to vote against it as it is expected to receive a vote on the House floor next week.
Reneging on agreement by “re-freezing” Iranian humanitarian funds would be profound mistake
NIAC President Jamal Abdi issued the following statement regarding reports that the Biden Administration may intend to block purchases of humanitarian goods with Iranian funds held in Qatar, ostensibly reneging on a recent prisoner-swap agreement:
‘Freezing’ Iran’s humanitarian fund is self defeating
The following piece was published in Responsible Statecraft and was written by Ryan Costello, Policy Director of the National Iranian American Council. ‘Freezing’ Iran’s humanitarian fund is self defeating ln a move that is sure to backfire, lawmakers want to block Tehran’s access to an account made available from the prisoner swap deal because of its […]
NIAC applauds freedom for five Iranian-Americans
Washington, DC – the National Iranian American Council issued the following statement upon news that the U.S. and Iran had finalized a prisoner swap freeing five Iranian-American dual nationals: “Today is a day to be thankful that five Iranian-American families have been made whole again following horrific ordeals. Our thoughts are with the Namazi, Shargi […]
NIAC Calls Out Hypocrisy of Trump and Allies on Iran Prisoner Swap
NIAC President Jamal Abdi released the following statement concerning criticism leveled by Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers against the Biden Administration’s effort to free wrongfully detained Iranian Americans: “It is disturbing and disheartening that we are seeing lies and politicization of the prisoner swap process with Iran, led by cynical politicians. Donald Trump and Congressional […]
Freeing Iranian Americans and humanitarian funds is a win-win
The latest Iran deal is a win-win. A complicated prisoner swap should ease drug shortages that are killing ordinary Iranians—and put new pressure on Tehran’s leaders. Read this op-ed from NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello in Defense One.
The Vicious Cycle of U.S.-Iran Tensions Continues in the Persian Gulf
This week, 2,000 U.S. Marines and three warships are joining recently deployed fighter jets and a naval destroyer aimed at countering Iran in the Persian Gulf. Why? Because the unilateral enforcement by the U.S. of sanctions beyond our borders has set off a dangerous tit for tat with Iran that amounts to a competition in […]
Panel Recap: The U.S. and Iran After 5 Years of “Maximum Pressure”: Is There Still a Path to Meaningful Change?
The U.S. and Iran After Five Years of ‘Maximum Pressure’: Is There Still a Path to Meaningful Change? “Women (in Iran) have not only gained autonomy of their bodies, but they have also fundamentally challenged the political contract and mobilized student and labor activists and have won the support of intellectuals and political elites,” stated […]
NIAC demands VOA retract, correct, and apologize for their slanderous false reporting
After NIAC initiated legal efforts to demand a retraction, correction, and apology from Voice of America, the U.S. Agency for Global Media has confirmed to NIAC that the broadcast has been removed from VOA platforms. This follows the recent airing of a 60-minute program by VOA Farsi that falsely defamed our grassroots U.S. civil society organization as “lobbyists for the Islamic Republic”, and also leveled these outrageously false smears against journalists and victims of the Islamic Republic.
Senate Rejects Amendments to Open Door to War with Iran in AUMF Debate
After the years of tragedy and disaster that followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Senate voted to repeal the 2002 authorization to use force against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. NIAC has urged that the decades-old authorization be repealed to prevent it from being abused as a blank check for presidents to justify U.S. military action on Iran without any public debate or approval from Congress.
NIAC Statement in Reaction to Iran-Saudi Deal
Ryan Costello, Policy Director with the National Iranian American Council, issued the following rapid reaction to the announcement of a diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran, brokered by China:
NIAC Statement on Israeli Strikes in Iran
NIAC president Jamal Abdi released the following statement following reports of Israeli strikes against military facilities inside Iran.